St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-08-04

sented my dispatches in person. /
was most cordially received by the
General, and having taken food and
seen that my horse was well cared for,
thought would proceed to take lit
tie rest. 1t was, however, not to be
for | was suddenly sent for by the
General, who wished to see me. As
approached headquarters l noticed a
number of scouts grouped together
and evidently engaged in discussing
something important, and | soon learn
ed what this was. General Sheridan
desired to send an important dispatch
to Fort Dodge, distance of ninety
five miles. Volunteers were requested
but none responded. The General
told me this, and what could I do
General" said, ''if there is no one
ready to volunteer, I'll carry your dis.
patches myself"
The General expressed himself great
" pleased at my offer, but at the same
time said that he had not thought Of
asking me to undertake the duty, as
had been fully hard worked already
But it was very important that the dis
patches should go.
"If you don't get a courier by q
o'clock this afternoon, I'll do the bust
ness" l responded, "but | must have
a fresh horse, and meantime will take
little rest" 1t was not much rest
that got, but punctually at O'Clock
announced myself ready, and mount
ing fresh horse, started on the road.
crossed Smoky Hill river at dark,
and it was just daylight as rode up to
Sam Log Crossing, on the Pawnee
Fork, where company of cOlOred cav
airy were posted under Major Cox.
Here got fresh horse and continued
my lonely ride, covered the remaining
twenty five miles to Fort Dodge, and
arrived soon after 9 o'clock, without
having seen a single Indian.
| Having delivered my dispatches and
rested an hour, | was informed that
the Commander wished to send some
dispatches to Fort Larned, my own
post. l, of course, readily undertook
to carry these, and my offer was glad
ly accepted by the General, "prOvided
| thought l could stand the trip after
my recent fatigue"
"All want is fresh horse, sir"
said.
Here was the difficulty. There was
not such thing as decent horse
available, the only animals to be had
being government mules, of which
there was a large choice. | made no
difficulty about this. "TrOt out your
mule" | said, ''and am ready now"
The mule was rapidly forthcoming,
and at dark [ started once more on the
road for Fort Larned, and proceeded
| without interruption to Coon Creek,
thirty miles from Fort Dodge.
Here l dismounted, and led my mule
to a pool to give him some water. l
also stood myself a drink, using my
hat for a dipper, and, while engaged
in procuring this refreshment, my
mule suddenly jerked off, and ambled
away down to the creek. Then it
flashed across my mind that in the
hurry of departure | had omitted to
make my lariat fast to him, and that
he was at large.
| followed him gently. in the hopes
of getting hold of his bride, and that
he would perchance stop. He did not.
He made straight for the wagon road,
but instead of making for Fort Dodge,
as [ expected he would, he turned to-
ward Fort Larned, and logged merrily
along with most happy and uncOn-
cerned air. Several times | succeeded
in getting just up to him, when he
would put on squirt and go ahead
easy, Stacking down as soon as | gave
up chase. L was sOrely tempted to
shoot him with my gun, which L for
tunately held in my hand, but the re-
port would have probably brought the
Indians down on me, and as he was,
besides, company for me, restrained,
and thus the mule marched on, and l
followed on fOot-cursing.
From Coon Creek to Fort Larned is
thirty-five miles and we-that is, the
mule and myself-made pretty good
time. There was nothing to hold the
mule, and was striving hard to catch
him-which urged him on. In addi-
ton to the excitement of this pedes
TRAN competition, had the knowledge
that | might any moment be pOunced
on by Indians, and have my hair lifted.
The mule stuck to the road and
stuck to the mule. Just as day began
to break we found ourselves still in
the same order of procession ON hill
looking down on to the valley of Paw
nee Fort, with Fort Larned looming
in the distance, and as | surveyed the
scene, and the mule surveyed me, the
morning gun belched forth half mile
away.
We took stock of each other with ex-
pressiOns of mutual distrust. Then,
my opposite neighbor, |
spoke.
"Time's up" 1 said, "and it's my
turn. L am deeply indebted to you
for your company, but we must part"
Then raised my gun to my shoulder
and blazed away, hitting the beast on
the hip. Inserting IA second cartridge,
fired into him again, and twice more,
until at last he lay stretched out nice
and comfortable. Like all govern
ment mules. he was a tough one and
died hard.
My shots brought out the troops, and
when they learned what had happened
they all said it served him right. L
then walked into headquarters and de-
livered my dispatches, and received
the compliments of the General. |
proceeded to put in some hours of solid
sleep, and then left that same night |
for Fort Hays with more dispatches,
which l delivered early the next morn
ing to General Sheridan. My record
Of these rides is as follows: Fort Larn-
ed to Fort Hays, IS miles i'm IL hours /;
Fort Hays to Fort Dodge, 95 miles in
the succeeding "a hours; Fort Dodge
TO Fort Larned, 35 miles on mule; 35
off mule, the same night; and back to
Fort Hays, Is miles, the next-total,
295 miles, over a rough country, infest-
ed by hostile Indians, without any
definite interval of rest.
On arriving at Fort Hays l was
highly complimented by General Sher-
dan on my achievement. "Cody," he
said, 81 have decided to appoint you
guide and chief of scouts, with the
And thnS If ruas nana 70 ho ol,iof